Last Destiny Volume 1 Chapter 4

A group of travelers arrives in Amoeba seeking the shrine of Hagashi. They are mistaken for cult followers, but clarify that they are just travelers. They meet a mapmaker named Adam who offers them a place to stay and gives them a map. They continue their journey and encounter a potion seller named Adana who they buy potions from. They then come across a home in a forest and are welcomed by a woman named Olga. They rest there for the night and continue their journey the next day. They meet a young boy named Ford who warns them about the dangers of a forest infested with centaurs. They follow him through the forest and encounter the centaurs, engaging in a battle. They manage to defeat the centaurs and continue their journey towards the shrine of Hagashi. Chapter 3 They reach Amoeba on Bayou Straight and knock on the first person's house there asking for food and water. The man who answers is Adam Spacey. He says, Why, hey, come in. I do have a room in the back. Not enough bed for everyone, though. I'll bring you food. Tell me, what brings you here when I get the food ready? Saru says, He's too nice. As they reach the back room, Kahira says, You all want to talk? Man, am I a follower? Saru says, I'm not. Then don't talk like that. Adam thinks they seem as though they are the followers. Soon it's time to eat. They all come to the dining room area. As they eat, Adam says, What brings you here? Oh, and I laughed a bunch. Kahira says, We came to Amoeba seeking the shrine of Hagashi. Adam says, Oh, really? Why did you say that? Says Kahira. Adam says, Well, I mean, you cult followers came to Bayou Straight seeking the shrine of Hagashi. Truly, you cult followers are fascinating. Kahira and Moroka both say, Cult followers? Adam smiles, saying, Yes, you didn't think I knew, hey? I mean, you can't hide something like that. Tonight must be prophet night or something. And you were told by some druid that the real birthplace of Hagashi was here, not Amoeba. So his shrine has to be here as well. Well, he could have been born here, but I... At that moment, Kahira pulls his sword and goes toward Adam. Adam in shock says, Oh, did I disgrace you? Moroka flies in between them and says, Easy now, Kahira. And no, they really believe we were in Amoeba based on an assumption similar to your statement. We are not cult followers, just travelers, some with a temper. As she looks toward Kahira shamefully, as they move from Adam, he says, Sorry, people about that, but I am a mapmaker. I can give you an accurate map in the morning, but do stay. Kahira says, We can't. But Moroka throws her hand towards his mouth and says, We'll stay. As they head to the back, she tells Kahira, You can't almost attack this man and then just up and leave, especially when his hospitality toward us was only good. They head to sleep. The next morning, they make up their living space. They take baths and eat breakfast prepared by Adam. As they head off, Adam gives them the map. The crew takes what would appear to be the long way at the behest of Moroka. Kahira spots a rather large estate and walks to knock on the door. As the others wait on the steps, a beautiful lady opens the door. One of Kahira's eyes opens wider to watch the lady smiles. Saru has turned and smiles heartily while Moroka frowns at all of this. The lady says, I am Adana, the best potion seller in the area. How may I help you? Kahira says, Oh, a potion seller. What do you sell? Adana says, I sell potions of elixirs, antidotes and ethers, all used for different levels of healing, including up to the point of death concerning the elixir. Ten pounds each. Kahira says, give me one of each. Saru says, you all possess a lot of pounds. Kayin says, yes and no. Kahira used to own his own store. Kahira pays the lady after receiving his potions, then they head off. The day passes by slowly into the night, which flows just as slowly. Kahira and the others roaming through Eastern Cha region come across a home. The home is by itself with no neighbors surrounded by a lush forest of strange plants. Kahira says, maybe I should go see if anyone lives here and would mind us spending the night. Moroka says, yes, you go ahead. We'll wait way over here. OK, go. Playfully, she gestures him away. Kahira walks over alone and knocks and suddenly a beautiful lady again opens the door. Saru thinks this fellow would appear to have a streak of luck. The lady says, my name is Olga. Are you here for potions? Kahira says, sorry, but we recently bought our fill of potions. We were wondering if you would let us rest at your place for the night. We're travelers on a quest. The night creeped on us before we could reach our destination. Olga says gladly. As Kahira returns to tell the others only to find Saru already standing almost right beside him. Kahira shakes his head as the others walk up. Moroka says that pretty face only proves she's a witch. Cayenne smirks, looking at his wife at this statement. The next day as they head off, Olga tells them to buy something next time. She goes to pick from the forest behind our home. Eventually, they arrive and go to Kintar. Moroka says, are we? After we get through here, we'll be in Amoeba. Then, though we have to pass a forest of centaurs, Saru says, centaurs? We'll perish for sure. Kahira says, we'll just have to take our chances. Mayuri and Cayenne embrace hands tightly at this moment. Right before them, a school lets out. The students either head home or do whatever they do after school. One young lad doesn't. He walks looking toward Kahira and company. Standing by a wall, he listens and watches them as they converse. Mayuri says, yes, Kahira has a point. We don't want to get involved with anyone from this village. They drink from the water well and head into the unknown forest. As they step into the forest, the young lad from the school stops them. He says, stop you fools. I am Ford. You are making a grave mistake stepping into this forest. They turn and look at him. Ford says, I am from the school you just passed by. Mayuri says, you followed us here? Ford says, yes, modest looking. Kahira says, why? You do know you could get hurt. I could hurt you. Saru looks toward Kahira. Ford fearfully says, because you guys look interesting. And that being so, if you all walk straight in danger, we'll encompass you all in the form of herds of centaurs. I know a way in which if followed, instead of herds, an individual will only face a few. Maroka says, okay, we'll follow. Kahira says, we will? He could be a traitor of the village who assists the centaurs for ransom. Maroka says, Kahira, really, he's a child who just got out of school. Kahira says, so. Maroka says, oh, come on. Kahira lowly replies, oh, all right. They head with the lads to an edge of the forest, and Ford says, silently head through here. Don't say a word. If something sounds as though it is moving, freeze until it passes by. It's very likely no fighting will take place until the very end. Kahira says, so we'll fight no matter what. Ford says, I'm afraid so. To this, Kahira smirks. They begin silently walking through, but after three freezes, they stop, tired and a bit exhausted. They sit on a column of rocks. Maroka thinks, thirsty. I should have drunk water earlier with the others. They are spotted by a centaur who charges straight toward them. Mayuriya silently says, nobody move. They look toward her as the centaur moves in closely. Mayuriya secretly pulls a dagger. She quickly throws it directly at the centaur. When it hits, it strikes so hard into the side of the centaur, his body is flung to the ground. The centaur gives off a loud roar. The crew notices at this point the entire forest goes quiet. They begin moving in silence, yet as fast of a pace as they can through the forest. They reach an opening, but they can tell something isn't right about it, as they see this isn't the end. The end can be seen, though. The opening allows the sun in. There are no trees in the surrounding, only plants, small animals, and some rocks, which lead to a pond. All the quietness ceases as two armed male centaurs leap forward. Another female slowly rises out of the pond. They are all stone-faced. The armed female centaur says, murderer! A worked-up Mayuriya, startled by her words, quickly throws and strikes her with the dagger. The female centaur in agony collapses in the pond. Saru goes for one of the males upon connecting their sword and lance clash. Noticing Saru and his background coming, Saru moves backward. Kahira leaps through the gap and strikes the sword of the centaur with his sword. The force knocks the sword loose of the centaur and Kahira dispatches him with a slice to the ribs. This causes the centaur to fold. Kayan and his centaur clash back and forth with their swords. Moroka, from above, launches downwards, striking them in the face with her mystical gauntlet she wears. The effect is greater than anyone would have imagined, breaking the centaur's jaw and causing him to release his sword. Kayan then proceeds to gut him. The centaur falls under the womb. The sound of raging horse steps is heard like a wave rushing in. The group runs as fast as they can. Moroka flies until they reach outside of the forest. They run until they reach the nearby village, breathing hard, profusely. They understand the centaurs in the distance will come no further. They know villages are off limits. They stop to see the village of Amoeba before them, which is a weird view in that the ancient face of Hagashi is cemented in the background. It is carved into the mountain portion, similar to how previous Manami's face was in Nari. Kahira, Kayan, and Mayuriya look off in disgust. Then Kahira, catching his breath, says, We head straight for Hagashi's shrine after we drink this potion. Moroka says, Thank goodness, because I am so thirsty. Kahira drinks the first of the potion and smiles. He hands it over to Moroka. She drinks the next of it and says, What a refreshing taste. Kayan drinks the next of it. He says, It tastes like wine. Mayuriya drinks after and says, Sweeter than the sweetest wine I drink. Saru is the last to drink. He says, I've never had wine, but it was delicious nonetheless. Kahira, then looking towards Saru, says, You received the last thing, leftover spit. Saru looks toward him with a smirk. The group is renewed to a state of well-being in mind and fully recovered in strength. They head for the shrine, walking straight through the village. They eventually notice a range of hills between the actual end of the village and the shrine, so they decide to rest. This, too, in no small part to having just faced a slew of centaurs that locate an end and stop the rest. Chapter 4 King Rasusi, who was unable to catch the group when they were still in the area, was eventually overwhelmed by the reports of the fear. He, as well as the high knight who was recovering, had to face the fact the group were not lying, and the task to face the might of the four sorcerers of the wind and rebuilding a fear became their main objective. They really had no room to even focus on the group, whom, being untrained in their eyes, they assumed would perish on their crusade. That evening, as the group is gathered together outside of the inn, sitting amongst another they talk, Mayuriya says, We are not killers. I say this because increasingly as we fight trying to make our way to the sorcerers, it seems everyone and everything is getting caught in the path, seemingly drawing us to that point. With these sorcerers who destroyed our families and livelihood, I had no problem with their deaths, but anyone who comes in our path? Kayan says, Mayuriya, I agree with you. We are not built for this. Not even Kahira. I mean, he assails me. We farmers, but we were taught to defend ourselves, to know our protectors, King Rasusi and his guard are not, are even up for the task. We have little choice. During this whole speech, Kahira stubbornly looks away with his hands crossed in silence. Having stood up once, Mayuriya began to talk. Near him sits Moroka on a boulder who stares at him sorrowfully. Saru sits on a boulder nearby Moroka. He looks at Mayuriya and Kayan. Saru says, We are not killers. This is true, but on something like this, a mission, if you will, to bring entities to justice. Everything and anything will get in our way. We really have to keep faith and we tell you that in the process, we are not overwhelmed by the blood we will most assuredly have to shed. Kahira then says, Spoken well, boy, and walks off. Moroka by this point has put her head all the way down in the direction of Kahira. The next morning, they make their way through the large village of Amoeba. It is the largest village they have encountered thus far. They reach the hills, which are medium size. They cross ten before reaching one larger than the others. As they reach over it, they see a lady at the bottom looking at the shrine. Kahira reacts by saying, I'll handle this. Before the others can stop him, his pace brings him directly to her. His intensity immediately causes her to whirl around toward him, her eyes blinking at the sight of him. The lady says, Huh? Have I done something wrong? Kahira grabs her shirt and says, How could she follow her? You can't possibly be of some form of defense to the shrine, could you? Saru shakes his head, looking down. Kayan and Mayoya look at one another puzzled. Moroka flies over to them and says, Kahira, this has got to stop. Let her go. She's powerless. Kahira says, Hmm. He lets her go and says, Speak. The others have by this time made their way to them. The lady says, I am Psycho Zin, a teacher of the village, not a follower of Hagashi. He, I mean, they were here earlier, ones who dress favor him. They were about to partake a journey to catch a demon of the West, gathering energy to free a dragon, I believe. Kahira says, Oh, you speak truth, but how did you come across this detail of information? Psycho says, I was inside. I've been one who sneaks inside the shrine since my youth. It really is nothing special to get in. Now she is pointing. Just go in through the hole there. Kahira says, thank you. They soon are inside and Kahira says, Hmm. Almost exactly like Menemes, though smaller. The shrine on the inside truly has a striking resemblance to Menemes shrine. The demon's area is quicker to locate, though the entity is not there. Cayenne says, All the same, but where's the creature? At this moment, a voice of horror sounding similar to the combination of many voices all at once speaks, Huh? Is this a hunt? Can an entity of the shadows get in on it? Or am I that which is being hunted? Now, Yoya says, its voice is all over and horrifying. Where could it be? Cayenne says, hiding in the shadows, nothing more than a coward. The voice says, no. Kahira and Moroka head off from the others with Kahira looking toward corners. Kahira says, I have a bloody blade for you, creature. The voice says, don't make me laugh. Seru, who was behind with Cayenne and Yoya, has left from them, says, its shadow has appeared. Watch the ground it moves across. Light peers in, stemming from the outside entrances, which incorporate Hagashi's stony facial structure. From this, the imp in the form of his shadow moves swiftly around, both across the ground in the light area and in sound. When it's near, Cayenne says, there it is, pointing with one of his swords across from where he and his wife are at the ground. Now, Yoya launches a dagger at the area. Seru says, Kahira, Moroka, we have it. The imp leaps forward from the shadows at them. Seru swings his lance at it, while Yoya goes to reclaim her dagger, which is stuck in the ground. Kahira rushes over with his sword drawn, with Moroka telling him. The imp knocks Cayenne and Mayoya away. Kahira, as he arrives, catches Seru, who is kicked by the imp. Now, Yoya, from behind, strikes the imp with the dagger. Cayenne and Moroka help her off the ground. The imp's laughter pervades the entire situation, seemingly coming from all directions. It runs from place to place, and Seru swirling his lance over his head. throws it toward the creature like a spear. It knocks the creature off of its path, allowing Kahira to move in and pierce it with his sword. The imp retaliates by slashing at them with his claws, cutting Kahira across the chest. Kahira steals stone faces. If nothing occurs, guts the creature. Even further, he pushes the blade deeper, damaging vital organs, which causes the creature to holler. Then, he violently pulls his blade out. He looks toward Mayuri and says, Hit it with all you've got. Understanding what he means, she begins harnessing a powerful spell, which will be enough to damage the actual shrine. Moroka has rushed over to Kahira as he is making his way from before the beast. Everyone but Mayuri and Cayenne, who stands by her near an entrance, is making their way out. Moroka says, Please, Kahira, move slow so I can heal you. Limping, Kahira was moving as fast as he could, though bleeding, while Moroka struggled to hold on to his bigger than her body while floating. He moves slower, which allows her to start healing him. She has removed her mystic gauntlet and lays her hands on his flesh area, where the wound is. Her hands are nervous, so she shakes, but they are teeming with magical bright energies, which heal. His flesh restructures itself as though brand new. While the blood dries, Moroka blesses intimately. Mayuri releases her Combination spell, which is basically a bomb composed of fire, water, and wind energies, causing Cayenne to step away from his wife. He is astonished as she is by the awesome release of energies. They rush as a wave of various colors of water and fire bursting about. The wind is hurling everything in a direction before the two. All of this force is rushing right at the creature's body, of which unable to move because of its wounds can only holler in pain. Once the energies connect with the imp's body, it gives off one final scream as all of the power concentrates and explodes. Mayuri and Cayenne are already out of the shrine, running as fast as they can. This causes the shrine to collapse as the prior one did. Saeko is still outside near the hill. She is speechless as the shrine begins to fall in itself, shaking her head. She realizes she had no idea what this bunch were actually up to and that they, for the most part, must be dangerous. The others have stopped and turned as it falls, only to see that Mayuri and Cayenne made it out all right. Eventually, they all are together and hug. Mayuri and Cayenne are happy to see Kaira is fully healed. Saeko has already left, and they walk off toward the village. As they notice people have emerged curious how the shrine has fallen, they walk around the village instead. Cayenne says, How are we going to get to the other shrines? They are across the sea, and they may take us some time to actually get to. Saru says, And don't forget that lady spoke of a creature the sorcerers were after. We need a form of transport. Mayuri says, Cayenne, remember we once heard of a place which crafts hot air balloons up north, a place called Turin, in the Haiyu region? Cayenne replies, Yes, I think I do, Mayuri. Saru says, So, we should go to this place and try to get these balloon crafters to produce us a transport which can move us at the speed of wind through the sky? Kaira says, I'll never call you Menoma follower again, friend. This statement causes Saru to smile. Moroka says, Yes, this sounds great. We will have to more develop this idea though on the way before we tell it to anyone. To Turin it is then. As Moroka says this, Cayenne, Mayuri, and Saru look back at her smile and begin to run. Only Kaira is still behind with their walking. It would appear they have begun to loosen up among another. Kaira, still devastated by the loss of his daughter, Suchi, refuses to open up. He still prefers to go it alone, though Moroka, who was drawn to him by the anguish she felt stemming from him in her dream, refuses to leave his side. They reach another forest. They walk calmly through until they all realize the last forest they were in was teeming with centaurs. They look alert at another. As Moroka recalls, this forest should possess centaurs as well. It isn't long before they hear the sound of horses coming in their direction. As they all take off running, Mayuri falls and Cayenne quickly snatches her up while still in motion. As he has to drag her along, she screams. Cayenne looks at her confused. Mayuri in pain says, You dislocated my arm. This causes him to stop and Saru to trip over a rock to which Kaira catches him. The centaur are closing in on him, but Kaira has a cold, hard look on his face. He tosses Saru ahead of him. He then rushes over to Cayenne and his wife and tosses them as well over to where Saru is. He then pulls his sword facing the direction of the incoming centaurs. Moroka sees them all tossed to where she is and looks back toward Kaira. Moroka thinks, He is the strongest Rajakin I have ever seen. He is so brave, but reckless. I cannot let him die. Not now, no, not ever. She proceeds to quickly heal Mayuri. Then she flies over to Kaira as fast as she can. Kaira has already stabbed and taken down one centaur. It clashes with another, though he has been wounded. With tears in her eyes, she looks arrogantly and concentrates it, giving off energy. She, utilizing the energy, lifts up Kaira and flies him out of the forest as fast as she can, catching up with the others who are already making their way out. They are shocked at the sight of her carrying him. She places him down and begins to heal him. The centaurs have seemed to have stopped following him as they have reached outside the limits. Saru says, He was going to sacrifice himself for us. Moroka, after fully healing him, collapses while Kaira begins to get up. Mayuri rushes over to pick her up. Kaira says, She's all right. She's suspended a lot. Kian says, Let me help you up, my friend. Kian gives him a hand while Saru dusts him off. Kaira says, Ah, Saru, I saw you almost about to cry when you thought I was near death. Saru, realizing Kaira's actually loosened up a bit, replies, Me? I think that centaur stabbed you a little too hard and you are seeing things. Kaira turns toward Moroka and Mayuri and says, Moroka, my friend, I owe you my life and I will repay you. Moroka, looking toward Kaira, smiles intensely while Mayuri, looking down at her who is beside her, smiles at her reaction. Saru says, Maybe we should go on ahead.